January 27, 2025

Students Unite for a Life-Saving Cause
On Saturday 25th January, 16 students from our Student Leadership Team volunteered as part of a national campaign with DKMS, an international, nonprofit bone marrow donor charity.The group helped to co-ordinate and support a small stem-cell donor drive which was held at Judgemeadow, and focused on finding a matching donor for Shehnaz Ossman, a grandmother undergoing blood cancer treatment.
Students, alongside school staff members, played an important role during the day, helping to register attendees and supporting DKMS volunteers. With their help, DKMS were able to take over 100 potential donor swabs.
Prior to the donation drive, the school also delivered a workshop to better educate student volunteers about blood cancer, the need for donor and the importance of hosting comparable donor events.
Local media organisations – including BBC and ITV – visited the event, and a short segment was also shared on BBC East Midlands Today.
On the event, our Associate Principal Alex Grainge said: "Hosting this stem cell donor drive has been an incredibly meaningful experience for our school. We stand in solidarity with Shehnaz and her loved ones during this challenging time, and we are proud to support her family in the local community in the search for a life-saving donor.
“Our student volunteers have gained invaluable knowledge about diseases like AML and the importance of coming together as a community to make a difference. This initiative has been a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when we work together for a common cause."
"By coming together as a community, we can support those in need and take pride in the incredible efforts of our students."
For those who couldn’t join us on the day, it’s never too late to make a difference – order your free swab kit today at DKMS.org.uk/register-now.
For more information about DKMS, visit their website here - https://www.dkms.org.uk/